Chapter 13 #3
Reno cautiously put the phone back to his ear. “Please don’t yell at me! I need my hearing for my career.”
“Son.”
“I know, I know. I’m avoiding answering.
” Reno shuffled his feet a little, eyeing the other two people waiting at the bus stop.
Thankfully, they were busy talking to each other and not paying attention to Reno.
“He flew here for me. He wanted to see me. I wanted to see him. I don’t start recording for another week, so I have some extra time to spend. ”
His mom was quiet for a moment before she said, “Where is this man staying?”
“He has his own temporary place; he isn’t staying with me. Promise.”
“You’re an adult, you can have whoever you want over.”
Reno felt his eyes narrow. “So why ask?”
“Just seeing how smart you’re being,” she replied.
“I’m not being very smart,” Reno had to admit. “I’m being rash. Stupid. Crazy. I really like him.”
“I can tell.” His mother sounded warm with her response. “I hope he is gentle to you.”
“Mom, I don't need someone to be gentle with me.”
“No," she agreed, “you don’t. But, I wish it for you.”
“You’ll be happy then.”
“Okay. You let me know how it goes, will you? How long is he there?”
Reno sighed, “Just two weeks. I might be able to convince him to stay, though.”
“So determined!” she laughed, “You say you don’t feel usual but you are acting just like yourself.”
“Ah, what does that mean?”
“Stubborn, foolish, romantic.”
“Aw, you think I’m being romantic?” Reno teased and his mother scoffed. “Were you like this with dad?”
“Yes. You know you get everything from me.”
“I’m grateful.” He meant it. “My bus is here. I will call you soon.”
“Be good," she said.
“I will, goodnight.”
She hung up right as the bus heading towards Reno’s home pulled up.
He settled into a seat, shot off a text to Sebastian to send him the song progress, then another to Jaewon asking how things were with Maxine.
Reno hoped he’d finally been able to convince Jaewon to tell Maxine who he really was, but the last time Reno got on his case about it, Jaewon blocked him for a whole day.
Kandi
Pap spotted on your block, Cane is dealing with them now.
I'm almost home, should I get off on the next stop and try to sneak around back?
Give me 5
Reno scowled at his phone before looking up and around at the other people on the bus. No one seemed especially suspicious or interested in him, however.
Kandi
Do I have anything on schedule tomorrow?
No, please do send in the most recent updates on the track listing, though
Great, can do
Streets clear. Should be fine for the night but be careful.
With a sigh, he thanked her then put his phone away and rested his head against the bus window, watching as familiar streets rolled by.
When they got to his stop, he thanked the driver and stepped out onto the street, pulling the hood of his hoodie up to hide his hair.
He took the stairs up to his flat two at a time and as soon as he was inside, he lay down on the fluffy rug in front of his TV with a tired sigh.
He still needed to eat something, exercise, practice violin, shower, and get ready to go out with Luka.
Luka. His stomach warmed immediately, remembering that he had a date tonight with Luka. He pictured him in the shower, how he’d left him, and let out a frustrated groan, pushing his torso up with his hands to stretch his back before he moved off the floor and grabbed his violin to tune.
He could do it; he had the motivation. He just had to make it through the next few hours, then he would have the best reward in the world—time with Luka.
Luka
I'm still pretty jet lagged, can we keep it low key?
I think i used everything I got walking around buckingham palace
no need for explaining. I am happy to do anything you want, including sitting and nothing
I feel bad
I'm about to come and make u forget about feeling bad
Down boy.
(,,╥﹏╥,,)
u mentioned a pub in the neighborhood? meet me there after ur done with ur stuff?
putting my violin up now. i can be there in 1 hour?
ありがとございました
I won't survive you,
またあとで
15
Reno stretched his hands, flexing his fingers against each other before forcing himself to stand up from his practice stool and put his violin back on its stand.
He pulled an arm over his head, arching his back with a sigh and feeling his spine pop in several places, before dragging his focus entirely away from music and into the present.
It always took him many moments to switch his attention from practice and creation into reality again, but he found it slightly easier tonight because he knew he was getting ready to see Luka.
He was glad to hear that Luka had spent the day walking around and seeing London instead of being cooped up indoors.
He admired the bravery Luka seemed to have, going out into the world alone to explore without letting anything hold him back.
It reminded him a bit of himself, the headstrong way he attacked anything in front of him without flinching. It made his stomach warm pleasantly, thinking he’d maybe found someone who could match his want, his need to go further than he’d been before.
It made something itch under his skin, though.
Reno knew his life was chaotic, that he wasn’t home often, that he could go months at a time without sleeping in the same bed longer than a night or two.
If Luka really did share a familiar taste for exploring, but had limited ability to do so, how could Reno expect Luka to wait for him?
He needed to talk to Luka about it, to ask him how he felt about the distance, about Reno’s busy life, about the stark independence Luka would have to employ if he stayed in Reno’s life.
But he’d promised Luka he wouldn’t pressure or pester him for answers or decisions for the next two weeks.
Reno flipped on his flat iron and made sure it wasn’t too high before running the heat protector over the ends of his hair.
He knew that he should keep his look toned down for the night.
While he trusted that Cane could keep the street safe, Reno didn’t expect the people working under him to be as thorough.
Paparazzi could slip through the cracks easily, and they weren’t the only ones—any fan who happened to be on the street at the same time as Reno was the risk of another viral video or blurry photo of Luka.
He’d grown used to his own photo being taken without his permission years and years ago, but he found himself worrying nonstop about how Luka would feel to experience the same things.
Applying a lip plumper, he stared himself down in the mirror before moving on to the rest of his skin care, shaving what hair had grown on his chin and plucking a stray brow hair while wondering how much he could get away with before he drew too much attention to himself.
He wanted so, so badly to dress up for Luka, and the weight of his reputation and infamy was like a stone in his stomach, reminding him that he wasn’t allowed to.
He couldn’t resist wearing a more subtle pair of blue contacts and a smidge of eyeshadow but he put the rest of his things away before he fell into too much of a routine.
He’d wear jeans. Flat shoes. A hoodie. Boring clothes that were at least soft so if Luka wanted to touch him he’d be met with something nice.
Reno took one long final look at himself before clicking off the bathroom light and going on a search for the clothes he’d mentally picked out.
It wasn’t long before he was doing a final sweep of his home to make sure nothing was out of place or dirty before locking the front door and heading out into the neighborhood.
“Oh, you’re back!”
Reno had only made it halfway down the block before his neighbor, Hattie, stopped him.
He gave her a warm smile and a hug before pulling back and tightening her sweater around her thin shoulders.
“Just got in a few weeks ago. I’m surprised you haven’t heard me playing!
Hey, you should be wearing more. It’s getting chilly now that the sun is to set. ”
She smiled at him, the lines of her face so beautiful where they crossed over each other.
Hattie pushed him teasingly, saying, “Don’t you start, child. When can I come over to pester you for some coffee and biscuits? You still bake, yes?”
“I need to buy some things from the store but I’m happy to make you anything. Do you want help with the back garden? I hope you haven’t let it get too overgrown while I am gone.”
“Oh," she chuckled, sounding timid, “it’s bad out there. My hips aren’t letting me bend over like I used to. The weeds have gotten unruly and you know none of the other boys around here like to help us ladies much anymore now that they’re all grown.
” She paused, drawing his attention back to her. “You keep looking over my shoulder.”
Reno felt his cheeks flush. “I’m meeting someone," he admitted, then waved his hand, embarrassed. “Sorry for being rude. I can come help you soon with gardens. We have a few weeks before the hydrangea should come up anyway, so we can get it all cleared away.”
She peered at him from over her rimless frames and Reno felt himself squirm from it. “Meeting someone? I know it’s not one of the boys or you wouldn’t be blushing.”
“Don’t make me," Reno whined, shuffling in place, “I have a…visitor.”
“You’re being awfully tight-lipped for the gossip you are.”
“Hattie, you are the gossip.” Reno took a small step around her and disarmed her with a big smile. “I will tell you all about him later, next week? I can bring you biscuits and we will catch up and garden, okay?”
Hattie stepped back, letting Reno move out of her metaphorical grip. “I’ll get you next time, love. You owe me so many stories; it's been months since you were home. I’ll call the girls together and you can tell us everything. How is next Tuesday? Say eleven?”